We've covered in a previous article about the things that are killing you in your home. Aside from actually cleaning individual items, there's a good methodology to follow when you're wanting to really make a place spotless. Check out the list below:

1. The 3Ts Rule - Toilets, Tabletops, Television

Cleaning can be fun too! No. Really.

The 3Ts above are notorious for collecting dust or dirt and are perhaps the most visible signs of a dirty home. Tackle this by wiping the surfaces. If you have time, use some disinfectant. You know, for good measure and a fragrant home!

2. Identify common areas your guests will go

Here, there, everywhere?

If you haven't the time to clean your bedroom, and you're pretty sure guests aren't going to be using or entering it, then just clean the common areas first. Move in the direction you think they'd move in. Once you've identified those areas, it's easy to get things started and finished.

Sweep first, vacuum and then mop for the super clean-feel effect.

3. Pay more attention to your bathroom / toilet

It's dirtier than you think.

Sure, we've covered toilet in the first point, but we probably need to reiterate it one more time. A gold standard of a clean home is just how comfortable anyone will feel to go number 2 in someone else's home. Don't just disinfect and clean your toilet bowls, add some fragrance by dumping some of it in there.

Also, don't forget to wipe the mirrors clean, make sure your shower curtain doesn't have stains, and remove bathrobes and wet towels and use paper towels instead.

4. If you're a hoarder, now's the time to hide it, or throw it out

Ah..if only your home looks this neat all the time.

We can't stress just how much harm hoarding does to people, but if you're not ready to throw something out, then don't do it just yet. If you need help, consult someone and ask the questions of whether you really need that something or not. But the whole idea of this is really to remove clutter. Somehow, a place that's filled with junk doesn't add any wow-factor value for when your guests come over.

Our solution: organize your stuff in cabinets, shelves, and storage and don't leave anything that doesn't belong somewhere just lying around for your relatives' judgy eyes to pass an unwanted comment or two.

5. Kitchen towels - replace them

Here's an experiment we'd like you to try, and with your nose. Put it at your kitchen towel and take a whiff. If the smell is so foul, you wanna gag, then you know it's truly time to either throw it away or disinfect it with some seriously hard stuff.

Replace anything that's damp or smelly in the kitchen, because believe me, some people have animal noses - they can smell shit from far away.

6. Your hair is everywhere. Sweep more often!

Sweep! Unless you have carpet, vacuum.

Your bathroom sink hole is probably covered, and has two layers of protection: 1- the actual cover. 2- your hair. That's gross. Your hair is everywhere. We drop hair like there's no tomorrow, so thank goodness you still have millions left, and million more grow all the time. But that's not the point. The point is to make it a habit to make sure you don't have hair where hair isn't wanted or needed.

Sweep the floor more often, don't use a vacuum cleaner because that will just clog your machine up. If you've got hair clogging up your bathroom, make it a habit to remove it after each shower, if any that is.

7. Play with scents

This is an expensive way to make a place smell nice.

Funnily enough, you might not have the time to do a lot of cleaning, but there's one sure way to trick people into believing your's is clean - just use some good scents. You can either use air fresheners or one of those aroma therapy candles to help mask a slightly stenchy room.

Of course, the sure-fire way to reduce or remove a stench is by airing and cleaning the room regularly. And be warned that some stenches and some scents seriously don't mix.

8. Clean your windows

Many people forget to do this, because, hey what are curtains for, right? But on the off-chance you need some good old natural light coming in, people will be horrified to see just how much dirt has accumulated over time.

To get rid of dirt and grime fast, just spray the windows with vinegar on a newspaper and wipe. Works like a charm.

9. The dishes, they don't do themselves.

So..they're not cleaning themselves up anytime soon.

Unfortunately, this is one chore you've got to do for the rest of your life. And it's also an indicator of how clean your place is, before a party that is. The good thing about clean dishes is that you don't have to do them when you need them. After all, who wants to be bogged down with all that work while entertaining guests.


Happy cleaning!